When Ken Ulman began his second term as county executive in December 2010, he told the Howard County Times he had "zero intention of raising taxes."

Now, Ulman is asking the County Council to eliminate the county's two separate fire tax districts that have residents in the east paying a higher premium than residents in the west. If the council approves the bill, Ulman will propose a singe countywide fire tax rate when he releases his budget in April.

Though Ulman said he has not yet decided what the rate should be, it would be surprising if he did not at least set the tax at the 13.55-cent rate residents in the east have been paying per $100 of assessed property value. Residents in the west have been paying 11.55 cents per $100 of assessed value.

While residents in the east would probably appreciate a reduction in their rate, it is unlikely given the following factors: Fire tax revenues have declined in recent years, in line with lower property tax assessments; property tax intake, which accounts for half of the county's general fund revenues, are projected to remain flat for at least another few years; and the county could be hit with what Ulman is calling a $17 million "crippling blow" to his budget if the General Assembly passes the governor's teacher pension shift proposal.

Ulman has proposed an increase on the fire tax before. In 2007, he wanted to raise the rate 3 cents in the west and 1 cent in the east, but the council could only be sold on a 1-cent increase in both.

The only other time Ulman has raised taxes since he took office in 2006 was last year when he submitted a bill to the Howard County delegation, which the General Assembly subsequently passed, increasing the hotel tax from 5 percent to 7 percent to raise funds for the Howard County Tourism Council and the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

The hotel tax rate hike, Ulman said last year, does not go against his statement that he had "zero intention of raising taxes" because he was referring to "general taxes charged to Howard County citizens and property owners." He explained: "This tax is charged almost exclusively to folks who do not live here."